When you take your hangover out for some retail therapy on Boxing Day, spare a thought for the many thousands of shop staff who have to work.

Emergency and hospital staff and others whose jobs are vital to the functioning of society have always worked through the festive season, but the commercialisation of Christmas reaches new heights this year. Morrison's stays closed but Tesco, Asda and Sainsbury's are all opening many more stores on Sunday. And it's hard for workers to say "No" to management requests to leave home and hearth for the jingling tills.

But as the bosses say, every little bit of profit helps, and it asda be earned by the workers.